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Austin’s Best of Resort Wear

January 27, 2010 by Melisa M. | Comments (0)

If the glum January weather is dragging you down a little too much, maybe it’s time to get away and bring a little more summer into your life. Did you know that winter is actually the best time of year to go on a cruise because you are more likely to get incredible deals and save loads of money while still escaping to somewhere with plenty of warm weather and sunshine? Now’s the time. If you need some summer clothes and accessories to go with that lovely cruise, check out these stores.

Adelante – 1206 West 38th St – adelanteaustin.com – 512.452.5322

The store’s look is inspired by the owner’s love of anything vintage. She loves to scour the country from coast to coast, handpicking the many varied, colorful styles that hang on their racks. She draws not only from different regional influences, but finds inspiration from across the decades. They carry hundreds of fashions, often vintage-inspired but always with a distinctly modern twist.

Although they offer a lot of wonderful art, furniture and home décor, the things that caught my eye were the bright and colorful hobo bags and summer clogs. Theses items look perfect for a cruise getaway, and you’re sure to enjoy what the rest of the store has to offer as well.

Girl Next Door - 250 West 2nd St – Girlnd.com – 512.322.0501

The same store we featured last week for evening wear is also a great place to find cute summer tops and sundresses. They have the clothes you crave from the hottest designers on the market. They seek out the best of New York and Los Angeles’ fashion scenes and bring it to you. Their store also carries some locally-designed products like the casual and active wear by Erebelle.

If you scroll through their vast list of designers you’ll see a few that stand out for cruise wear. Ella Moss and Geren Ford both have a lot of cute tops that are light and bright and Mara Hoffman has some adorable beach dresses, a sleeveless jumper and even a kimono dress. These three designers are just the tip of the iceberg. Come check out all that Girl Next Door has to offer.

Maya Star – 1508 South Congress – mayastar.com – 512.912.1475

Maya Star showcases a diverse collection of clothing options with a focus on dresses for every occasion. The owner, Maya Krauss’ taste relates to a number of different styles from classic to trendy and the clothing represents this with options for every age, shape, and budget. Today, Maya Star has gained a reputation as one of the top boutiques in Austin and the go-to destination for distinctive clothing, gifts, and jewelry.

There are plenty of perfect dresses at Maya Star to wear either on a casual morning on deck or a glammed up night on the town when the ship is docked on a tropical island. Combining chic style with casual comfort seems to be what Maya Star does best as far as dresses are concerned.

Now you know where to go to prepare yourself, book that ticket already!

We CRAVE Couture

January 22, 2010 by Melisa M. | Comments (0)

Do you have post-Golden Globe depression because your closet is missing that incredible dress your favorite star walked down the red carpet in? Or do you just wish you could show up to a party with the kind of couture that will undoubtedly turn heads? We’ve gathered a couple of suggestions for where you can shop in Austin to find that perfect unstoppable outfit and the right accessories to compliment it.

Estilo – 234 West 2nd St – (estiloaustin.com) – 512.653.4438

Estilo is Austin’s newest concept for women’s and men’s contemporary clothing. Here, fashion meets art. A clothing gallery, Estilo showcases everything from denim to cocktail dresses for women. The store also features artwork from local artists. With friendly and energetic style consultants, Estilo always has your style solution. Estilo has a three compliment guarantee on anything you purchase.

Girl Next Door – 250 West 2nd St – (Girlnd.com) – 512.322.0501

They have the clothes you crave from the hottest designers on the market. They seek out the best of New York and Los Angeles’ fashion scenes and bring it to you. Their store also carries some locally-designed products like the casual and active wear by Erebelle. Each item is something special, whether it’s wardrobe staples like tops from Vince Clothing and Ya-Ya, the designer denim you just have to have, ingwa; melero’s sultry tops and dresses for evening, or a uniquely-dyed silk dress from Lotta Stensson for a more elegant occasion. The richest colors, best fit and most luxurious fabrics are what you’ll find in their clothing. Austin shopping hasn’t been the same since their store opened in 2004, and now you can have the hottest designer women’s clothing no matter where you live!

Shiki – 225 West 2nd St – (Shopshiki.com) – 512.391.0123

Shiki (Japanese for four seasons) has distinguished itself as the source for distinctively unique fashion from rising names in the industry. Since its opening in 1998, Shiki has become an Austin destination for current and contemporary, yet still laid-back, fashion… echoing the style of the city itself. The beautiful jewelry and accessories, plus an incredibly friendly sales staff, complete the warm, welcoming shopping experience. Owner Jane Vanisko McCan works hard to make sure the selection is well-edited and reasonably priced, while still maintaining a high quality level and design aesthetic. The mix of designers is always evolving, as is the website selection. Whether its a brand carried for 10 years, or an up and coming emerging talent, they always strive to bring you a hand-picked selection of the lines we love to wear.

Sikara & Company – 706 Rio Grande – (sikarajewelry.com) – 512.565.9504

Sikara & Co is modern fusion jewelry that reflects owner Mousumi Shaw’s life as an Indian-American and her global travels to more than 30 countries. With an international design team, Sikara &Co has latin, Asian, European and Middle Eastern-inspired collections. The hand-crafted line of sterling silver with semi-precious stones, is sold in more than 200 stores across the United States.

Touch of Sass – 500 North Lamar, Suite 170 – (touchofsass.net)- 512.478.7277

Touch of Sass is a fabulous spot to find unique accessories that are sure to turn heads. Creator Currie Bucher has this to say about it: “Accessories are truly my passion. And I believe every lady should follow her passion because where passion is, success will be also. So in October 2004, Touch of Sass was born. A lot of people ask me where I got the name. Although there were several inspirations, I just feel that the name is what this company is all about. . . adding a ‘Touch of Sass’ to your already fabulous look. It’s about helping you find accessories that highlight your own unique style, beauty and individuality. I believe every woman has her own ‘sass appeal’ and we have something for everyone. After all, we are equal parts chic, grace, cool, glam, whimsy, fun, sophistication, and elegance. And above all, we are sassy.�

I hope this helps you find your long lost personality statement. After all, you don’t need an occasion to be the best (and certainly most shiny) version of yourself.